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Friday, April 24, 2015

When high school heartthrob and star athlete
Cole Jackson breaks Tatum’s heart, she makes a pact with herself to never be
hurt again. She turns love into a game modeled after her family’s favorite
pastime: baseball. Anyone brave enough to date her must step up to plate and
get to each base by following her rules - or they're out.

Years later Cole, as handsome and charming as
ever, makes an unexpected reappearance in her life with promises he’s a changed
man. He’s got the story to prove it and says he’s willing to follow all of her
rules just to have a second chance.

Complicating matters is the strong and steady
Airman, Justin Parker, with a heartbreak story of his own. His friendship
challenges all she ever knew of loving and being loved.

Will Tatum’s rules help her navigate two very
different men, or will she strike out at her own game?

Here's my review:

NOTE: I received this title from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

To
start this off, I want to say that this book was a surprise from the
very first chapter. I didn't expect it to begin as it did (but I won't
say more because I don't want to spoil it for you), or to develop how it
did. What I can say is that I enjoyed the story, the characters, the
truth of coming-of-age and how difficult it could be.

Most
importantly though, this story doesn't feel like fiction, but like
something you'd experience in real life. That's what really captivated
me and drew me in.

About the characters... I can say that both
Tatum and Cole started out as kids, but grew up as life moved on around
them. There were moments when I didn't like how they acted, didn't
approve of what they did, but like I said previously, that's why this
felt like a real life story.

I really recommend this book to people who love reading new adult lit, but do keep in mind that you're in for something fresh.

ABOUT Lucy H. Delaney

Lucy H. Delaney lives in the Pacific Northwest town of
Leavenworth, Washington, nestled at the feet of the Cascade Mountains. When not
tucked away in her writing room making up stories or standing in her cubicle in
one of the offices of corporate America, Lucy spends her time with her family,
former students, and friends.

Lucy loves
to be in nature: She can often be found on her homemade backyard swing, curled
up with a good book, hiking the surrounding mountains, or running country roads
and game trails.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blog post by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights releases we're eagerly awaiting.

My pick this week is:

Title:Fall of KnightSeries: A Knight's Story, Book 1

Genre: psychological thrillerAudience: YA

Author: Steven Cross

Release date: April 7th, 2015Publisher: Booktrope Publishing

Summary:

A normal teenager Dean Knight is not.

With a mental illness that threatens to take over his
sanity; a sister who’s deep in her own problems; and a wasted mother who
couldn’t care less about it all, Dean is left to battle real life on his own.
School, bullies and medications are his realities.

Then there are also the ghosts, the hallucinations and of
course – the monster.

In the middle of it all, when everything seems to lose
purpose, hope comes shining down on Dean’s miserable life. Her name is Ella and
for one reason or another, she actually wants to be close to Dean. With Ella’s
help, the lost teenage boy decides that he could finally win a battle or two –
both in real life and in his writing.

But hope is a tricky thing. And the monster seems to know
that.

When secrets buried down for almost a decade come out in the
open, what do you do?

Why I want to read it:I was totally grabbed by the summary. And even though I don't particularly like WATCHING psycho thrillers, reading them is quite a different matter ;)

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Uncross the Stars by Janell RhiannonPublication date: December 15th, 2014Genres: Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Fiona
Lavender is the new girl at school. She has a chip on her shoulder and a
pension for poetry. Dario Martinez is the star quarterback, and
the most unattainable guy on campus. Their stars cross when they are
paired to study Romeo and Juliet for a senior English project. Their
connection is fragile and undeniable. But, Dario is afraid of what love
will do; and Fiona is waiting for love to claim her. Will they uncross
the stars and find the love they both need to heal their pasts?

At midnight, Fiona and her mother finally pulled into the
driveway of their new rental. Her mom cut the engine, but not the parking
lights.

“Looks like we made it, Fee.”

“Barely. I thought you were going to kill us a few times
weaving all over the road like you were,” Fiona said.

“It’s not easy driving and towing a U-haul trailer. It’s
heavy,” her mom replied and began rummaging through her purse.

Fiona ignored her mother and squinted through the dust and
bug splats on the windshield at the dark house. She noticed the crooked light
fixture on the left side of the garage, and the rain gutter hanging askew.

“Looks like we’re the haunted house on the block,” Fiona
said.

Her mom hit the high beams spotlighting the garage door like
a stage.

“Not so helpful, Mom.” Fiona got out of the car and
stretched her neck and back. She inhaled the cool fall air. Peering through the
darkness, she noticed the bushes lining the dead grass yard needed trimming,
the thinly branched tree in the front stood naked of leaves, and mounds of
dried up flowers filled the flower bed under the front window. Shadows darkened
the walkway to the front door. A pair of windows stared out at the street like
rectangular evil eyes.

“Looks sturdy and dirty. And creepy. I can hardly wait to go
inside, Mom.”

Fiona peered inside the car. Under the dim dome light, her
mom had dumped the entire contents of her purse on the passenger side seat.

“Mom, what are you doing?”

“I think I left the key back in Watsonville.”

“Great,” Fiona said. She glanced back at the windows. They
remained staring blankly into the night. Fiona looked down the street in both
directions. Every single house had a lit porch, except theirs.

“Ahhh-ha! I found it. It was in the ash tray. I forgot I put
it in there for safe keeping.”

“Hurry up, Mom. It’s dark outside.”

“Fine. I’m coming. Have some patience, Fee,” her mom said,
as she got out of the car.

They walked the dark pathway to the front door. A powdery
dust covered everything. Fiona’s mom tried to fit the key in the lock and open
the door. She jiggled and twisted the knob, syncing the internal mechanisms
with difficulty, until the door finally creaked open into a darkness blacker
than night.

“Where’s the light switch?” her mom asked, as she ran her
hand over the wall next to the door frame. “Ah!”

Fiona heard the light switch click. She heard her mom toggle
it up and down several times in rapid succession, but nothing happened.

“Well, either that or we need several dozen light bulbs,”
her mother answered.

“Figures.” Fiona heard her mother rummaging through her
purse again. “What are you doing?”

“Wait. I think I’ve got it.”

Fiona heard jangling keys, a soft snap and a beam of blue
light appeared from her mother’s hand. “There we go.” Her mom walked into the
house waving the thin light in front of her. When she found the kitchen, she
searched through random drawers. “There we go,” she said again.

“There we go what?” Fiona asked completely annoyed.

“Candles. Now, all I need is some fire.”

Fiona flipped a pack of paper matches at her mom.

“Where’d you get these? You aren’t smoking again, are you?”

“From the counter, Mom! Jeez. I smoke one time three years
ago and you act like I’m going to die of lung cancer or some crap. Light the
dumb candle already.” As her mom lit the candles, it occurred to Fiona, “Did
you call ahead to get the power turned on?”

“What?” Her mom asked.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

“Maybe I can get my old job back.” Fiona’s mom rerouted the
conversation.

“What job?” Fiona asked, rolling her eyes.

“The one at Red Lobster. Ah. There we go. Light.” Fiona’s mom
smiled triumphantly, holding up a lit candle.

Fiona stared at her mother through the candlelight. “Are you
serious? That was ten years ago.”

“I was good at that job. The manager, oh, what was her name?
Mandy?”

“Who cares what her name was. It was ten years ago. No one’s
going to remember you.”

Undeterred by Fiona’s negativity, her mother continued, “I
think it was Valerie. Yes, I’m pretty sure it was Valerie. Maybe she’s still
there.”

“Ten years ago, Mom. And nice try.” Fiona said.

“Nice try what?” Her mom paused. “I noticed you didn’t use
the F-word. I’m proud of you sticking to your promise.”

“Nice try not answering my question. The power company. You
didn’t call ahead, did you?”

“I was so busy getting the U-haul loaded—”

“I’ll take that as a no,” Fiona said flatly.

“I’m sorry, Fee. I’ll get on it first thing in the morning.”

“Can we just unload some things, so I can go to bed,
preferably not on the floor?”

AUTHOR BIO:

Janell
has been writing since she was in grade school. In high school, her 9th
grade English teacher suggested she consider a career in writing. After
a decade in college and a Master's degree in history, she settled into
teaching.

Writing never stopped. Stories never stopped. READING
fiction never stopped. Now, she writes and publishes on-line. Invisible
Wings is her first YA novel, a compilation of short stories centered on
teenage life triumphs and tragedies. She believes being a teenager is
difficult and wrote Invisible Wings to let teens know they aren't alone.
That they matter. That even though life is rough, they can still find
beauty and love.

Beside the YA stories close to her heart, she
adores Mythology and Fairy tales. Anything magical and mystical. And
dragons. And gargoyles.

She currently lives in CA.

Visit her
at Facebook @Janell Rhiannon Author. If you want to see what projects
are in the works or find out more about the her, visit